When the first issue of Wasatch Digital iQ appeared in January 2001, the question I was asked most frequently was, “Won’t you quickly run out of material for Utah technology stories?” It wasn’t long before the backlog of worthy stories was so large that the magazine’s editorial team routinely had to decide which stories would be told in the next few issues and which would have to wait six months or longer.

The take-home message is that even in the midst of an extended economic downturn, Utah is home to a dynamic, vibrant community of technology companies and entrepreneurs. There will be no shortage of stories to tell anytime soon. 

Almost invariably, as the editorial staff neared completion of one issue, some event or trend would develop that was significant enough to demand admission into the current issue. This issue of Wasatch Digital iQ, the first in its new life as a quarterly publication under the direction of Olympus Publishers, is no exception. In this case, the cover story describes a key new piece of technology-related economic development legislation, House Bill 240 (the Venture Capital Enhancement Act), and describes its eventful journey through the Utah legislative process.

The successful passage of HB 240 highlights an encouraging phenomenon: an active, unified technology community worked in concert to educate the legislature about the mission-critical need to attract more investment capital for the state’s entrepreneurial economy. This development bodes well for Utah and its entrepreneurs and should be encouraged by all who have an interest in the continuing growth and vitality of Utah’s economy.

A Personal Note

In August 2000, I began to contemplate in earnest the creation of a Utah-based technology industry publication. I envisioned a magazine that would help boost the growth of the state’s technology economy and deepen the sense of identity and community among its participants by describing people, companies, events and trends that were shaping Utah’s technological present and future. This was the sustaining vision during my two years of direct involvement with Wasatch Digital iQ, a time I found to be rewarding beyond measure.